Alumni News

The mechanics of success

May 22, 2015

Every May, nearly 2000 of Ontario’s top skilled trades students compete in the Ontario Technological Skills Competition held in Waterloo. Ben Rahim knows all about the pressure and the rewards of Canada’s largest skilled trades competition. The certified machinist and Sheridan graduate won Gold for precision machining at the 2014 competition, going on to place third in Canada.

“I was a bit nervous at first, but I got over it, because it felt like just another day out on the shop floor,” recalled Ben, who has worked for Murray Manufacturing in Brampton since completing his the first year of his pre apprenticeship program.
“I was very proud to be chosen to represent Sheridan in the competition,” adds Ben, who earned a Mechanical Techniques–Tool and Die Maker certificate in 2010. In 2014, he completed a 3-year Apprenticeship – General Machinist certificate. Ben went on to write his Certificate of Qualification, becoming a Red Seal certified machinist.
For his success, Ben credits his employer Ian Murray Lawrence, and shop foreman Martin Saunders - both Sheridan trades alumni – as well as Instructor Michael Reid for teaching the 24-year-old grad new skills and encouraging him throughout his journey.
Today, Ben enjoys giving the occasional guided tour of the machine shop at the Skills Training Centre campus and helping out at robotic competitions held by Sheridan. “I encourage students to consider a future in manufacturing through the many programs offered by the college.”
Outside of his job, Ben has also been devoting time to building a go-kart from scratch - making blueprints of the frame, fabricating linkages and designing and manufacture one-off parts for his go-kart. “I am learning a lot about the engineering and design aspect of this project. It’s coming along nicely, and I’m hoping to have it up and running for the summer.”
Learn more about Sheridan’s Apprenticeship programs.